Stacey's Weblog

Heading Home

2008-09-03T15:47:49Z

We are going to make the trek home either on Friday or Saturday. Waiting for the first wave of people to dissipate a bit. I mean there is a strong possibility we don't have power (although the Maple Leaf and Rue does). As much as I want to go home, sitting in traffic doesn't sound like my idea of fun at all. Especially to do all that waiting for the possibility of no AC, not many grocery stores, and what not. I don't have to be back to work until Monday so I might as well keep enjoying my time here in Hickory Creek, TX and hope that Ike or Josephine doesn't push me back here in a few weeks!

Watching and Waiting

2008-09-01T17:22:56Z

Made it to Hickory Creek Texas yesterday morning. It was a looooong drive. However we weren't stuck in traffic. We took a lot of back highways and while it did take us 12 hours, at least we weren't sitting on the freeway. It could have potentially taken us a lot longer.

Slept for about 2 hours yesterday morning and then got up and started watching the progress of Gustav. Been sleeping in short spurts since then.

Everyone went to breakfast, I didn't want to leave the house. Watching CNN on the TV and then have 4 local stations streaming from one website watching...we are far from taking a BIG sigh of relief. Almost afraid to take it just yet because we did that with Katrina...then the breeches happened. So a small one for now. A few friends are in my neighborhood right now, hopefully when it all calms down weather wise one of them will be able to go and check on my house.

Gustav

2008-08-30T14:06:09Z

I am sitting here on my bed, eating some breakfast. Putting CDs on my computer. Something I haven't done since the last computer crash that wiped everything away. I have been doing this since yesterday afternoon. Neighbors boarded up house yesterday and are right now packing up their car. Kristen is busy packing. I haven't done any packing. I don't want to start packing. I am doing everything that I can to avoid it, however I know I need to start. We got some plastic bins from Katja last night (mine are all full of Bonerama/PBS merch that has been moved to a hopefully safe place) I need to pack up all my pictures under my bed into to the bins. Need to decide how many clothes to pack. For a few days (again) two weeks, or forever. That is something you just have to learn to deal with when you live in a Gulf Coast State. Hurricanes are going to come. I will make that decision soon.

I am watching on the news, some buses getting loaded up for those people who have no means to get out of the city. One of 17 locations across Orleans parish alone. National Guard is getting all set up at the convention center. OPP is closed down. If you get yourself arrested, you will end up on a bus and probably head on out to Angola. So far things about this evacuation is different from the one 3 years ago. While it seems like more people are leaving, a lot of my friends are staying. They will be fine. Of course, if it really intensifies more than they anticipate, then they will leave.

We are leaving sometime after 4. If it stays the course, we will head to Dallas. If it moves more west we will head to BR. At this time? It looks like Dallas.

Gustav, please be kind to New Orleans, that is all I ask. I like it here. I want to come home on Wednesday.

Remember....Hope.....

2008-08-29T14:39:39Z

3 Years

2008-08-28T15:32:40Z

Three years later to the day. That was when all the senses were knocked back into me. What was I thinking before that? That I was invincible? I think at that time I didn’t want to leave the place that had become my home. I stated earlier this week, and previously many times before that, what this city means to me. I must have known in the back of my mind what was going to happen. I didn’t want that taken away from me. What am I talking about? Read the following, it was written a year later.

The next morning I was chilling on the couch watching some movie....when a roommate came home, "Are you going to leave?" she asks me. "For what??" The hurricane that is coming" um no. I am not evacuating for a hurricane. It won't be that bad. They always say it’s going to be a bad one and it isn't. It probably won't even come this way. I decided to stay. Even after watching the coverage (which locally started around 1 or 2 on Saturday)and talking to several people. At that time I didn't have a car, so after both roomies left? I was on my own. I wasn't worried. I had some supplies, I cooked up a bunch of food that I could eat later cold. I made ice. I filled the tubs. I was good to go. I was even calling my friends to see if they were still playing at Donna's that night. To my surprise they were on their way out of town. I was even wondering if the Krewe of Oak, Midsummer party was happening down the street at the Maple Leaf. I decided to stay home and have my own hurricane party. I didn't sleep much that night. Early the next morning I started to worry. It was a Cat 5 now. It really is the big one. It really is coming this way. I am stuck here. I figure I can go to the superdome if it gets really bad. Then I realize I can't take my cat. My cat will go with me no matter what. So it’s either I stay put...or find a way out of town. If I didn't have my cat I would have stayed. I watched the last of my neighbors leave. It was so quiet. That feeling of oh crap....I think I did something stupid by staying, that feeling just rushed over me at that point. As luck had it? A co-worker and her hubby were still in town. And they were gettin out. They came and got me. I didn’t take much. Like most everyone else, I took my computer, a small duffel bag, my cat, her food and a small pan for her to use. That was it. About 4 hours into the trip, we were sitting on the Bonne Carre Spillway. In the countraflow. A dead stop. All four lanes. (for those of you that don't know, the spillway is maybe a half hour away...it took us 4 hours to get there) A feeder band came through. You could see it coming....the rain was just coming...the wind started rocking all the cars....the road was moving and shaking. I just kept thinking if this collapses? How far is it to swim with the kitty carrier above my head. The feeder band passed in about 5 minutes. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. You could see the fear in everyone around us. 12 hours after leaving New Orleans, we reached our destination. It was Jennings, LA. About 6 hours later, the full force of Katrina hit. We were all watching. we couldn't believe what we were seeing. When it was over? It didn't seem that bad. It really didn't. We figured by wed.....we would be on our way home. I was sleeping on the couch....well sleeping is a figurative term...I kept the TV on. I realized very early how bad the levee breaks were getting to be. Tuesday morning when my co-worker got up...she found me crying. "We aren't going to go home for a long long time" Later that day we headed to Austin. From there I went to Hickory Creek, TX. Where I spent the next 8 weeks with my dear dear friends.

Yeah, I was kinda stupid. If you have never experienced that feeling of belonging somewhere, then you don’t understand at all. My sense of being here has only strengthened in the past 3 years. I have gutted more houses than I can count. I have inhaled more mold than I care to think about. I have dealt with so much BS that is unbelievable. Knowing I am not the only one does help. There is a whole city full of people that feel the same way.
As we get nearer to tomorrow, that dreaded anniversary, with potential threat breathing down our necks, take a moment to remember lives lost, homes lost, lives destroyed and be grateful for what you have. I know I am

Some Questions....

2008-08-28T14:00:00Z

Miss Zoot put up some questions on her blog and I thought what the hell...I am going to make a whole post about answering them.

1. If you’re on hold with a company, which is better: To have the recording tell you approximately how long the wait will be, or NOT. I don't think it matters, because the recording is almost never right. I will think I have 5 minutes to wait then take a sip of water and a real live person comes on the live and scares the daylights out of me!!

2. Is there ever a cause for you not to tip at a restaurant? Even when I have received the crappiest of crappiest service, I will tip. It has been a small amount never over what they should "deserve" Then I don't go back to the place ever again. That will show em. ;)

3. How do you feel about returning items you’ve purchased? I try not to take things back, only because I am a rare breed of women, I hate to shop. I will take it back if I really have to, spoiled food that was just bought, clothes to small (tend not to try them on first) what have you but it is a big pain in the rear.

4. How do you feel about walking out of movies? I have never walked out of a movie. I love going to the movies too much, plus with the price you paid for it? Well might as well stay. Wouldn't demand my money back either because if I couldn't tell it was dumb in the first place? Then that was my own fault.

5. Do you sing along with music? I sing with music ALL the time. Sometimes quietly, where no one will hear me, other times really really loud. I so can't sing, I have an awful voice but that doesn't stop me! I will even sing along to songs that don't have words....yeah it can be done.

What isn't needed

2008-08-27T17:02:00Z

When is it acceptable to start your planning in the event of a hurricane? Do you start at the beginning of hurricane season? Have a plan all laid out? Do you start to plan when there is a depression out in the Atlantic? Or do you wait until it is a Tropical Storm? Do you watch the path and make a decision from there? Does it have to be a hurricane before the planning starts? What if the probability of it hitting close by is still pretty wide? Or do you wait until your area is in that three day cone? Or is it just better to wait until the night before? Regardless of when you decide to prepare, you should not be ridiculed for it. Boy Scout Motto: “Be Prepared”. Works for them, it can work for me. Should I be made to feel ashamed because right now there is a storm out there brewing in the Atlantic and I am doing some planning? All forecast models shows it ending up in the Gulf this weekend. Can it change paths and fizzle down? Sure! I would love to see that happen. I am not pinning all my hopes and dreams to that however and will face reality and say, Hey, this storm could get potentially nasty maybe I better plan on where I am going to go, get in touch with friends I can stay with. Make sure my ride is going the same way. Check in with some friends here in town to find out if they are going to still go out of town as originally planned since I am to be house sitting for them and want to make sure they have a list of items they would like me to take with me. I have a shitload of merchandise for the bands I work for maybe finding an alternate spot for them just in case isn’t a bad idea. Does this mean I am panicking? No it doesn’t. It means that I have no problem taking a look at what may lie ahead and going head and doing some initial planning. Considering that life is full of twist and turns things won’t always go according to plan and being able to keep a cool head in the face of disaster is always a plus.
This is what looks to be the first big storm since Katrina, 3 years ago almost to the day. There are similarities that make it kinda eerie. It is okay to acknowledge that. Again it doesn’t mean you are panicking. I find it offensive that some people are thinking that it is. Maybe this storm needs to happen to just get it out of the way. Because there will always be a storm happening. We do live in the Gulf Coast area, in hurricane central. Do people go overboard? SURE! When don’t they? But considering what people went through three years ago, there should be some lax from these naysayers. Maybe this is how they cope. Are we to sit back and pretend nothing is going on? That is just ignoring a really big elephant in the room that happens to be standing on your toes. If it makes them feel better, well then good for them. I am going to continue on with my everyday life and include in some extra plans just in case. If you think that is panicking? Go right ahead. I am going to go and dance to some Bonerama music night and be happy. Then I am going to go home, check on the storm and go to sleep and I will be able to sleep, because I have a plan.

Vigilante

2008-08-26T17:09:17Z

After Katrina I told my housemate, “We can’t live in fear if we want to continue to live in New Orleans”. There had been no doubt in my mind that I wanted to come home after Katrina. I know some people just stayed away. Some people came back and then had to leave. Then there are some of us who wanted nothing more but to be here. In the four years I have been here, I have realized this is really where I am meant to be. The only drawback is the rest of my family isn’t here, however that is why there are planes, trains, and other modes of transportation. I have said in the past that the friends I have made here are an amazing extended family, something that I haven’t ever had in the other places that I have lived. No wait, I need to take that back. I did in a way have it in Seattle, but it wasn’t as much, well maybe because I wasn’t really happy it was quite right. I don’t want to make it seem like I didn’t and don’t appreciate them because I do, but what I have here is so much different.
Getting back on track, we are just a few days shy of the 3rd anniversary. It is amazing to see all that is going on down here, and at the same time, what hasn’t been done yet. It is a long road to recovery. It is sad to think that it won’t be exactly the same. It can be said that is good in some ways. Bad in others.
Going back to you can’t live in fear, doesn’t mean you can’t be very aware of what is going on. If you don’t know we are in the midst of hurricane season. People keep a closer eye on what is going on in the waters these days. Fay was nice to us, we appreciated that. Florida is probably wishing she had been just as kind to them. Now brewing out there is Gustav. Gustav we need to watch. I am afraid that he is going to hurt someone bad. Once he hits the open waters of the Gulf? All bets are off. It will be that waiting game. Watching and waiting to see which way and who is going to get hurt the most.
Regardless, I will keep on coming back. It is where I was meant to be. It may be a struggle but what in life isn’t?

ETA: check out what Loki has to say....it is scary.

Why Bonerama Will One Day Rule the World-Part 9*

2008-08-24T23:46:04Z

-Bonerama for playing Happy Birthday, ya haven't lived unless they have played that for ya. Even if some people were confused by the whole National Holiday thing. What was important is that I knew.

-Craig for the sweaty hugs.

-Greg for the inverted goatee look.

-Matt for some killer new songs.

-Steve for remembering all our conversations.

-Bert for not remember our conversations.

-Eric for drinks. And massages.

-Mark for well there really are too many things. This time? Weather updates.

For the Crew
-Danny for the old lady dance. The bow was hot.

-Bryan for taking care of us, all the Oxford history. So good for the band.

-Will for working his ass off.

-Tom for driving. So sad I didn't see you!!

*expanding to include the whole band this time because they are really too good to us and are some wonderful friends. Just what this girl needed!!

Leo Roars

2008-08-21T20:43:51Z

Don’t you just enjoy those days where nothing can go wrong? Where everything just seems to be going your way? Even if it isn’t, it doesn’t seem to matter? That is how it is for me today. WWOZ seems to be playing music that just fits my mood. The day for the most part is flying by. Just finished a big part of a project I have been working on since I got here. I have fresh flowers sitting on my desk. I have heard from a lot of my friends and families, many bringing smiles to my faces. Some making me laugh hysterically. Actually it is a quiet kind of laughing hysterically that leaves me making all kinds of snorts and coughs as I don’t want to scare the new co-workers, which I have seemed to have done anyway. I am going to enjoy a fantastic dinner with a bunch of friends, some I see almost every day, and some I haven’t seen in a real long time. My hair seems to be actually doing what I want, and staying. My clothes fit right. Yeah today is a good day. Today I made 33. (I love that phrase, never heard it until I moved here) I hope it continues to be a good day and it is a good day for everyone else!!

ETA: I totally forgot one other really good thing about today. A certain piano player I enjoy is recording his new CD, starting today. Hope that jackhammering was under control....HA!

ETA (again) that I just got a message from my sister. I can officially say it. I am going to be an Auntie again!!! WHOO HOOO!! Aubrey is going to be a big sister sometime in late Feb.

Montana Recap

2008-08-19T02:42:32Z

At the end of the month I went to Montana for my grandfather's funereal. Like I mentioned earlier I hadn't been back in quite some time. The last time I was there....well I don't remember when that was. 6 years ago? 8 years ago? Regardless it was a long time ago. It won't be that long again. I really enjoyed seeing everyone again. My little cousins are no longer the little cousins. They are all grown up now! There is a younger generation of cousins now. It made me feel OLD. This is debatable to some of course. Anyway, as it happens there had been a baby shower for one of my cousins while I was there. We took some group shots while there:

This is Grandma and her 6 daughters. Yes SIX.

Here we are, this isn't all the grandkids. We are missing 4 other cousins. 3 couldn't make it to the funereal (including my sister) and well Wynn wasn't invited because he is a boy. It was a baby shower after all. There are also 2 great grandchildren. At the time of this picture any way. Whitney did have her baby over the weekend. :)

Here is most of us cousins again....

I did take a walk around the campus of the University of Montana with my friend Michelle and her boys. I never really appreciated it while I was there.

Here is another shot across the Oval

A little food porn for those of you that enjoy it. This is what I call heaven. Double Front Chicken. Best chicken on earth.

I to get back and see everyone again real soon!!

This and That

2008-08-18T15:15:55Z

Bullets, that is the way we roll today.
• The weekend was for the most part good. Lots of football/Olympics viewings. Good times with some friends. Some sleep, some laundry, some movies viewed. (crap forgot the Netflix movies at home!!)
• Spent some time in the ER yesterday. Nothing too serious, but it was beyond tolerable anymore. The closest urgent care that took my insurance was in Kenner and their number was disconnected. I tried looking for a few others but the numbers didn’t work either. So off to the Touro ER I went. I can now hear out of my ear, the pressure is almost all gone and so is the pain. The ringing in my ear is gone as well. There is a slight sinus infection which seems to be doing better.
• Which is good because it is the start of my Birthday week. Right now there is nothing too big planned for the week. Most likely resting until the big day. I know that night my roomie is planning a dinner party with some friends of ours. I knew she was taking me to dinner, but I didn’t know that she had invited a bunch of our friends until one of them let it slip last night. OOOPS. It should be fun! I did get one birthday drink already as one friend will be out of town that day. Later this weekend there is a road trip in the works to go and see the boys play in Oxford!!!
• Work is going good. So far a lot of figuring out a new filing system and a few other things here and there. It is a totally different atmosphere from what I had been in. Much more relaxed in some ways. I am enjoying it immensely.

A little Cuteness

2008-08-15T02:45:02Z

So I am going to use the little energy I have right now to post a few of my favorite pictures from when my niece was here. That was almost a month ago.....I think. Everything from the past few weeks is a blur. One day things may slow down...if that happens I won't know what to do with myself. So onward to the cuteness that is my niece. I mean what is better than a cute baby?

Just FYI only one more week until my birthday!!! : )

Drained

2008-08-14T03:38:31Z

So. Job good. Pictures on computer. Can't bring self to write blogs about pictures. Since Sunday my ear has been bugging me. I can barely hear out of it right now. This morning it seemed better....by the afternoon it was crappy again. I want the ringing to stop. I want the dizziness to stop. I want the headaches gone. I want to feel normal again. Going to sleep now....and hope when I wake, the ringing will be gone...........

Movin on up

2008-08-08T13:06:01Z

So here we are. Last day at work. For this company anyway. I started this job when I got back to the city after being blown away. I started as a temp and within the year was hired on full time. While it hasn't been the most favorite of jobs I will be grateful for having it especially post-K.

I am leaving this job because they are moving out of the city and out to St. Rose. Quite a trek with out a car. I doubt I would have gone even with a car seeing how much gas prices are these days. That and I did the long commute when I lived in Seattle and it was beyond frustrating.

Today is not only my last day but the last day of the GM who is moving up to the NE. He is a bit more sad about leaving, but they made him an offer that he can't refuse. There will be a lunch thing today with the whole company, food provided by Voo Doo BBQ. I love me some Voo Doo BBQ.

The only downfall coming up is I didn't take any time off between jobs. I start the new one on Monday. I have the weekend to totally switch gears in my brain and get it back into ship shape. This new job, like I said in the past is an amazing opportunity and I am really happy that I got it. It is going to be a lot of work, it is going to be hard, exciting and educating. I know I can do everything that they need me to do, but there is that little worry-some bug in my head. I am sure by next week at this time it will be gone.